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Automotive Entrepreneur Leverages Family Experience to Open First CARSTAR Location in Idaho

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 11:08amadmin

CHARLOTTE (May 9, 2018) – CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, North America’s largest multi-shop operator network of independently-owned collision repair facilities, announced that its first location in Idaho has opened, bringing its U.S. locations total to 33 states.

CARSTAR of Hayden, located 1770 W Hayden Ave., Hayden, ID, 83835, is owned by Greg and Rachelle Solesbee. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 8,000 square foot facility specializes in duplicating factory repairs with advanced equipment such as CAR-O-LINER Bench Rack, GYS NeoPulse Welder for aluminum, steel and silica Bronze, and also GYS Resistance Spot Welder.

Solesbee got his start in the collision repair industry with his family. His father Wendell started repairing vehicles when he was in high school, and continued to work on cars throughout his career as an electrical engineer at Rockwell. Solesbee’s mother Martha also did her part to help, even long-blocking cars while pregnant, handling the finances as CFO and raising seven children alongside Wendell.

“My wife and I decided to branch out with our four children and take everything we learned from Mom and Dad to establish our own dream of creating a stellar work environment,” said Solesbee. “Our employee team is like none other and we really enjoy helping bring people’s lives back together one car at a time. We want to put a smile on every customer’s face."

“Rachelle and myself had originally designed our own business blue print,” he added. “As we shared what we were looking to do we had a friend tell us we should look at CARSTAR. We took their advice and did so. After investigating what they were about I turned to my wife and said ‘They literally took our business plan and already made it into 500 locations!”

The technicians at CARSTAR of Hayden are I-CAR and ASE certified and trained to work on all makes and models. They participate in ongoing education programs on the latest vehicle technologies and materials.

As part of the CARSTAR network, CARSTAR of Hayden can access the North American collision repair leader’s advanced tools, technology and training, along with a well-known brand, purchasing efficiencies, national insurance relationships and more.

CARSTAR of Hayden is also involved in giving back to the community. They donated nearly $10,000 in parts to the Auto Body Tech School at NIC (North Idaho College) in Rathdrum, ID. They also are working with Sherwin Williams, NIC and GYS welding to put on a Tech information (Proper Welding) training night. In addition, they are involved in the City of Hayden and the Chamber of Coeur d’Alene.

“We are excited to expand the CARSTAR presence in the Northwest with our first location in Idaho and to welcome innovative entrepreneurs like Greg and Rachelle Solesbee to our CARSTAR family,” said Michael Macaluso, President, CARSTAR. “This region is growing quickly, and we are honored to have the Solesbees lead CARSTAR’s entry into Idaho. Their commitment to the highest quality collision repairs and excellent customer service is stellar.”

About CARSTARCARSTAR North America -- a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands -- is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 550 locations in 32 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts in the U.S. and CARSTAR Collision and Glass Services in Canada deliver national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, CARSTAR, its franchisees, partners and employees have raised over $3 million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and has made fighting cystic fibrosis its cause, North American wide. For more information visit www.carstar.com and www.carstar.ca and follow us on Facebook and twitter. CARSTAR is actively seeking new franchisees. Interested parties should contact 844-906-9764.